Trousers-hanger.



-- UNITED srATEs PATENT OFFICE.

CLIFFORD J. SPRUCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MACKlll-LOVEJOY 'NOIS. U

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be'it known that I, CLIFFORD J. Srnuon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lrousers-Hangers, of which the following is a specification;

The object of my invention is to provide an cflicient trousers hanger of that ty e in which the trousers are clamped at the ower edge by means of op osed jaws connected by means of pivoted suspending arms, or by means of a \l-shaped spring. Devices of this type, as heretofore made, have been more or less unsatisfactory, for the reason that when the jaws are clamped there is a tendency for the outer ends thereof to curve outwardly, resulting in an imperfect grip upon the trousers. In order to remedy this defect, and also to otherwise improve the construction, I have devised a trousers hanger of the form hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a side view of my improved trousers hanger; Fig. 2, a bottom vlew of the'same; and Fig. 3, an end view part1 in section.

General y s' eaking, the embodiment of my invention i lustrated in the drawings consists of two ivoted suspending arms 1 carrying at their ower extremities opposed clamping jaws designated generally by the numeral 2.

Each clamping jaw comprises a metal ressure plate 3, perferably somewhat flexil ile in order that it may yield to the inequalities of the garment. Secured to the back of each pressure plate is an-arched reinforcing member 4 attached at its outer ends to' the pressure plate by rivets 5, or other suitable means. In order to protect the garment from directcontact with the metal, a strip of webbing 6, or other fabric, ma be secured over the face of each pressure p ate. In thepresent instance I have shownthe Webbing 6 folded'back over the ends of the pressure plates and the ends ofthe webbing secured beneath the outer ends of the arched reinforcing members, 4, the rivets 5 serving to secure the reinforcing members and the webbin in place upon the pressure plate.

It be ap arent that the construction above describe constitutes a truss in which the part 4 forms the compression member and the pressure plate 3 the tension member.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 31. 1907- Serial No. 376.652.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOlS, A CORPORATION OF ILLI- TROUSERS-HANGER.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

By this construction great rigidity is imparted to the clamping jaw, even when comparatively light and lloxiblo metal is em )loyed in its construction. The trussed form of jaw also furnishes means whereby force is'applied to the pressure plates near their outer ends, thus efiectuall overcoming any tendency to bend out at t is point-and thus release the trousers from the gripping aetion'of the hanger.

In order to impart greater ri idity to the arched reinforcing members 4 may stamp or otherwise form ribs 7 in the sheet metal of which these members are formed. In practice I have-found that it is unnecessary to recess the clamping plates 4 at the center. to afiord clearance for the trousers seam. Even when a thick seam or other article is inserted between the clamping plates at the center and they are then brought together by applying pressure to the supportmg arms, the end portions of the pressure plates contact per ectly while the center yields sufficiently to accommodate the seam I or other obstruction at the center. If desired, however, the pressure plates 3 ma be recessed outwardly at the center to a 0rd clearance for the trousers seam.

In order that the jaws may normally lie in an open position ready to receive the trousers, I have provided a s ring 8 substantially U-shaped in form and having its ends inserted in apertures 9 in the supporting arms. The outer tension upon the ends of the spring 8 serves to normally throw the supporting arms outwardly to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

For the purpose of providing an econoinical construction, whereby the jaws may be securely clamped in closed dposition, I have employed a clasp 10 ivote at 11 to one of the supporting arms y means of a stri of metal 12. The strip '12 is riveted or ot erwise secured to the sup 'orting arm and out-,

wardly bent to form a caring-for the clasp 100 10. The clasp 10 embraces both supporting arms. The supporting arms are bent. at 13 in the manner lndicated for the purpose of increasing the divergence of the upper ends thereof, and the arm with which the free end 105 of the clasp 10 co-acts is provided with a series of pro ections 14 formed integrally with the supporting arm. These projections may be cheaply formed by means of a prickpunch. It will be obvious that as the clasp 11b tions extending from sai 10 is moved downwardly upon its pivot 11 i the arms will be brou ht together and held arms to properly co-act with the clasp 10 and cause the arms to be drawn togetherby thedownward movement thereof.' 7 While I have described a specific form of my device, I do not consider my invention restricted to thatspecific form, but to-embrace broadly the idea of constructing a trousers hanger upon the principles ex-' lained. What I claim is: I v 1. A trousers hanger comprising supporting arms, pressure plates, means whereby .said supporting arms may be drawn together,

and connections between said supporting arms and said pressure (plates, said connecsupporting arms to points adjacent the ends 0 saidypressure plates.

2. A trousers hanger comprising coacting yielding pressure plates, and reinforcing .members secured near their ends to sai pressure-plates at points adjacent the ends therepif.

ressure plates, and arched reinforcing memers securednear their ends to said pressure platesat points adjacent the ends thereof.

4. In a trousers hanger, opposed pressure plates ,arched reinforcing members co-acting with said pressure plates on either side of the center thereof, and yieldingly connected supporting arms secured to said reinforcing members.

5. In a trousershanger, opposed pressure plates, arched'reinforcmg members secured near their ends to said. ressure plates at points on either side of t e center thereof,

garment engaging members extending along the face of said pressure plates and folded said reinforcing members and said pressure plates.

' CLIFFORD 'J. SPRUCE. Witnesses: l

U. R. EMOND, GEo. SMALE.

trousers hanger comprising co-actingover thee'nds thereof and secured between 

